Electing the Next Judges of the International Criminal Court: Principles and Essential Skills
This year the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) will elect six new judges for the International Criminal Court (ICC) from a pool of 20 candidates. ICC judges play a critical role in securing the institution’s long-term health: managing its proceedings well, authoring timely and authoritative jurisprudence, and providing an overall sense of mission and purpose. To that end, ensuring that the elected judges are of the highest caliber and integrity is crucial.
This briefing paper urges states to:
- engage genuinely with the Advisory Committee on the Nomination of Judges’ (ACN) final report and be guided by its conclusions;
- prioritize merit-based considerations in advance of the elections, bearing in mind essential skills and qualities required for ICC judges; and
- avoid harmful practices like vote trading and campaigning.
Justice Initiative Says Nominees for ICC Prosecutor Need Additional Vetting
The Justice Initiative and Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice submitted an open letter asking for additional, robust vetting of all candidates nominated for the ICC’s next prosecutor.
Groups Urge State Parties to ICC to Follow Transparent Process for Electing New Prosecutor
In an open letter, the Justice Initiative joins nine organizations in urging state parties to the International Criminal Court to adhere to the existing process of electing its next prosecutor, including refraining from nominating candidates not included in the shortlist released on June 30, 2020.
ICC Announces Prosecutor Nomination Short List, Justice Initiative Calls for Additional Actions to Ensure Merit
Following the International Criminal Court's release of shortlisted candidates for the role of prosecutor , the Justice Initiative calls on member states to ensure that the candidates embody outstanding professional merit and “high moral character,” a key requirement for the position.